There are lots of homeschool curriculum options for teaching math, history, and language but a delicate subject like reproductive health and maturation is another story.
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Only a handful of publishers tackle it, and to make matters more complicated, there’s no consensus on the best ways to tackle it, what to include, what to exclude, or how to cover it according to the needs of the average homeschool family. That’s because homeschooling families, just like any other demographic subset, have some differing opinions on sexuality and its place in educational discourse.
What to Know about Teaching Sex Ed and reproduction
With all of this in mind, here are some things to consider when researching sexual health curriculum options for your homeschool.
1. goals for teaching reproductive health.
Before jumping into specifics about what to look for, it’s important to understand your goals for teaching the subject. Answering the following questions can funnel you to the best approach and resources to effectively teach reproduction and sexual education.
Once you have ideas about how to answer these questions, you can determine your goals for moving forward.
2. key differences between secular and faith-based materials.
In my experience, the primary differences between faith-based and secular reproductive health resources involve the language used and the reverence surrounding sexuality and reproduction. Secular resources written for children and teens tend to be matter-of-fact by taking a clinical approach to anatomy and using neutral discourse to discuss sexual activity.
On the other hand, a faith-based curriculum may include anatomical references for the parts of the reproductive system while pairing these references with metaphorical language, scripture, or religiously themed messaging.
A good example of this comes from The Good and the Beautiful’s Maturation and Sexual Reproduction Unit. The lessons about puberty present anatomical terms and functions of the reproductive system, yet the process is likened to a blooming flower. Additionally, the corresponding student assignments are worksheets titled “Traits of a Virtuous Woman” and “Traits of a Strong Man.”
Differences in Ideological Alignment
Similarly, the following quote from the same unit may not be a principle each homeschool family wants to convey while teaching reproduction or sexuality:
“It is selfish, habit-forming, and creates low self-esteem. People who m*sterb@te are often depressed from a lack of self-control.” (The Good and the Beautiful, Maturation and Sexual Reproduction, p. 21).
Since this comes from a resource that teaches from a specific faith perspective, it demonstrates why homeschool parents must decide if they want to teach this through the lens of their faith or if they prefer a nonsectarian approach to reproductive education.
It is also worth noting that faith-based and secular resources vary considerably in how they treat gender and diversity in relationships. This can include ideological differences regarding the purpose of relationships and sexuality, types of relationship pairings, gender roles within relationships, and consent.
Specifically, the faith-based resources I have reviewed teach a patriarchal and binary view of romantic relationships. While remaining age-appropriate, secular resources tend to branch out by introducing “traditional” male-female relationships while also providing representation of the LGBTQ+ community.
Regardless of where you land on any of these topics, research is needed to ensure your chosen curriculum will align with your views and support your goals for teaching sex education reproduction. Because of this, it is worth echoing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
3. Homeschool Curriculum about Reproduction and Maturation
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Beyond the differences between faith-based and secular reproductive education resources, it is important to note that resources designed specifically for homeschoolers are fairly limited. That’s not to say that it isn’t covered at all in certain biology or anatomy curricula. It’s more that there aren’t many homeschool-specific deep dives into the subject.
With this in mind, here are some resources to help with teaching reproductive health at home.
Kid-Friendly Books About Reproductive Health
There are several good reading options for covering reproduction and puberty. You can find them all through this Bookshop.org list, but here are a few of my favorites:
- It’s Perfectly Normal – This one is great to have on hand for older kids and middle schoolers.
- Girling Up and Boying Up – These don’t exclusively talk about reproductive health, but nicely integrate it into the conversation about growing up.
- Puberty Is Gross but Also Really Awesome – Looking for a light-hearted resource to have on hand? This one still covers the facts, but includes some jokes and fun along the way.
Clarify Sex Education
Outside of reading with your kids, Clarify Sex Education can help whether you’re looking to approach reproductive health as a homeschool subject or simply want to be prepared for the talk.
In addition to the free starter guide, they offer topical lessons designed for families ranging on puberty, menstruation, intercourse, and more. These lessons are available individually or bundled, so you truly have everything you need to foster open, honest, and non-judgmental conversations that align with your family’s values, whatever they may be.
The Good and the Beautiful
If you’re looking for a conservative Christian perspective for teaching reproduction, The Good and the Beautiful’s Maturation Unit could be good for exploring it with elementary-aged kiddos and middle schoolers.
Planned Parenthood
For a non-sectarian approach, remember that Planned Parenthood offers free resources. Made for teaching at home, they offer downloadable guides for teaching reproductive health across four age groups. They also have free topical courses for teachers that can be used to teach consent, relationship skills, pregnancy prevention, and more.
Other Family-Friendly Resources
Similarly, 3 Rs from Advocates for Youth provides an inclusive curriculum and individual lessons that can be filtered by topic or grade level. Sex Positive Families can also help in this area. While not curated specifically for homeschoolers, this website has many resources to help families cover reproductive health.
Teachers Pay Teachers
Finally, Teachers Pay Teachers has several homeschool-friendly resources for teaching sex education. Search their site to see which options could be a good fit.
In closing, be encouraged that tackling reproduction and maturation in your homeschool doesn’t have to be complicated or scary. Like any subject, it all comes down to understanding your educational goals and what kinds of resources will best help you accomplish them.
